Gustavo Martinez has been in the advertising and marketing industry for more than 35 years and made a name for himself during that time. Because of this, many businesses recognize his skill and the value he brings to the table in terms of increased sales and boosted profits. He works hard to understand his clients and their prospects, which allows him to deliver outstanding results on a regular basis.
Martinez strives to make his advertising material stand out from what other marketers produce, and he has no trouble reaching that goal. He cares about each client he serves and does what it takes to improve their bottom lines. His skill and dedication are what let him become the talented marketer people trust today. No matter the project on which he works, Gustavo Martinez aims for perfection in every way possible.
Serving as the CEO of J. Walter Thompson WW and as Regional President of Ogilvy and McCann are the roles of which he is the proudest. The companies are one of the most relevant marketing firms on the planet, and Martinez created many iconic ads during his time there. Many marketing and business professionals come to Gustavo Martinez for marketing advice and feedback on how to increase their overall effectiveness.
Martinez is passionate about his work and loves what he does, which is a major factor in his success. He is a warm, open person who is happy to share his knowledge and advice with the world any time someone asks for it.
Boasting marketing skills and a drive for ongoing improvement, Martinez is excited to tackle any challenge that comes his way. While human nature is to deny and ignore mistakes, he makes an ongoing effort to identify and learn from his mistakes. He knows that the learning process never ends and remains on a never-ending search for knowledge and wisdom.
With the right mindset and attitude, Martinez says anyone can achieve their dreams no matter what they are. One of the things that sets Martinez apart from other marketing leaders is that he has found the perfect balance between work and family. During his downtime, he enjoys spending time with the people in his life who matter the most.
Where did the idea for your company come from?
When it comes to creating innovative ideas for marketing videos, I like to think outside the box. I consider what the market wants and the type of ads to which they have responded well in the past. With that approach and a little luck, I have made some of the most memorable ads in the industry.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
If I am not away on a business trip, I wake up at 7 a.m. and have breakfast with my family before going to the office. Some people say I’m addicted to working and that I spend too much time at the office, and they wonder how I don’t burn myself out. The truth is that I love what I do and find inspiration in everything.
How do you bring ideas to life?
It would not be fair of me to take credit for all the ideas I have put into action. Many of the ideas come from my marketing and creative teams, and their diversity is one of the biggest things to which my company owes its success. I am trying all the time to inspire and motivate my team by recognizing their talent and giving them projects in which they are the most likely to thrive.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Of all the marketing trends coming to the surface, the internet of things excites me more than anything else does. The internet of things can use machine learning to predict what customers want and when they want it, which is impressive.
A consumer’s refrigerator, for example, could predict when someone wants ice cream based on the outside temperature, the last meal they ate and their normal eating habits. It could then send that information to an ice cream shop that knows the flavor the customer wants. Ice cream shops with such technology could place orders before their customers even know they want them.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Active listening and caring about people are what make me productive as an entrepreneur. I learned long ago that everyone has interesting things to say and valuable skills to share. Caring about people enough to let them speak is a powerful tool for any entrepreneur.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I could save myself a lot of trouble by going back in time and speaking with my younger self. In my younger years, I was almost always in a rush to achieve whatever goal I had at the time. I would tell my younger self to be patient and to learn from other people. Those traits can take anyone’s business or goals to a whole new level.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
Donating to charity is important but only if you do so for the right reasons. Some people donate to make themselves look good, but that is advertising, not charity. True charity comes from the pure desire to give back to the community and help those who need it the most. If you would like to donate funds to a charity, start with ones close to home.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
I have many things to thank during my career, but some things stand out more than others. Learning to be generous is a critical part of running a successful business. You need to identify and meet the needs of your prospects if you want to thrive for years to come. You should also be open to views other than your own even if you disagree at first.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
The No. 1 thing that has worked in my favor is hiring the top talent in the industry. I am willing to pay top dollar for talented workers because they are an investment that offers impressive returns. You are only as strong as your team, and that is one of the areas in which I would never cut corners.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
Trying to move too quickly and sometimes failing to see the value other people can bring to the table is one of the biggest mistakes I have made in my career. I overcame it by realizing I was wrong and looking for new ways to operate. By looking at myself and my actions with an open mind, I was able to defeat those roadblocks.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Better integrations in research analysis are always needed. If someone can come up with something efficient for market research, they are sure to become successful.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
The way you spend money plays a role in the level of success you can expect. As far as my personal life is concerned, the best $100 I have spent was on a nice dinner with my family. On a professional level, business books are the best $100 I have spent.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?
A digital planner is the one piece of software that keeps me productive and on track. Each week, I plan my daily activities and make sure I stick to my agenda so that I don’t get distracted and lose focus. Filling out a planner seems like a lot of work at first glance, but it saves you a lot of time and effort over the long run.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
A lot of great business and marketing books are on the market, but “Think and Grow Rich” is one that stands out to me more than the rest. It’s a great place to start for any business owner who wants to get off the ground or take their success to new heights.
What is your favorite quote?
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts,” said Winston Churchill. That quote hits home and inspires the way I approach each day and the challenges I face along the way. What it means to me is that small successes and failures are not nearly as important as the direction in which you are moving.
Key Learnings:
- The Value of Generosity
- The Importance of Taking an Interest in Others
- Keeping Goals at the Front of the Mind
Connect:
Steve (Stefan) Junge hails from Germany and helps with the day-to-day publishing of interviews on IdeaMensch. While he and Mario don’t share a favorite soccer club, their enthusiasm to help entrepreneurs is a shared passion.